Teachers Share their Experiences While Living Abroad!

Feeling homesick is inevitable no matter where you are. Whether you are teaching in Korea, away at college, or even just a couple of hours away from home, it happens. So it isn’t something to fear, but rather something to prepare yourself for. Although some people, including myself, had a hard time being away from home upon first arriving in Korea, I have found my time abroad has really helped me become a more independent person and I am forever grateful for this experience. Below I will detail ways about how to not only become more independent and comfortable while living in Korea, but also, thanks to modern technology, how you can communicate with friend and family back home.

Cindy Ung is a ChungDahm Learning alumnus whom I met during our training week back in the winter of 2011. Not only have I had the privilege of being friends with Cindy, she also introduced me to Aclipse Recruiting. Originally from New York City, Cindy studied at Rutgers University where she was able to learn about teaching opportunities in Korea. Wanting to broaden her perspectives of the world, she lived and worked for ChungDahm in Seoul for two years and since leaving ChungDahm over 3 years ago, she has become a successful real estate agent in New York City. However, every year during her vacation she always opts to come back and visit Seoul for the week. When I ask her why doesn’t she go travel to another country, she always says that that Korea has become her second home. For many of us teaching in Korea, I think Korea will always have a special place in our hearts just like hers. Below are Cindy’s top 5 reasons why she continues to come back to Korea.

Cafe culture in Korea is taken seriously -- cafes are on every corner in my neighborhood. In addition to your run of the mill coffee shops, cafes with specific themes abound. I've posted previously about my visits to a board game cafe and the Mustoy cafe, but I have to admit, when I came to Korea, I was the most excited about the availability of a cafe theme I hadn't encountered before: animals.

In case you haven't noticed, owls are super "in" right now, and Korea is definitely following suit. They also happen to be one of my favorite animals and in the past decade or so, I've amassed quite an owl collection. You can just imagine my elation and fascination, then, when I heard that Seoul has an actual Owl Museum! After spending the morning walking around the Bukchon Hanok Village, my friends and I wandered through the neighboring Samcheongdong to see what this Owl Museum was all about...

I've recently decided that I am on a mission to explore all the odd and quirky cafes that Korea has to offer. (Luckily, there are lots and lots of them.) Since the weather isn't terribly out-of-doors-friendly right now, it seems like a good time to start checking them off my list. Right at the top of that list for my friends and I was a board game cafe, which we easily found in the Gangnam area of Seoul.

Although I have yet to experience a jimjilbang, the ultimate place for relaxation, I did enjoy some great downtime at Yang Yang Cat Cafe in Busan, South Korea. I haven't always been the biggest fan of cats, but I was lured in by the promise of a hot beverage, as the weather was a little rainy that day. Little did I know, I would be staying in the cafe long after the weather cleared.

Right now, Korea is smack in the middle of the infamous monsoon season. While it can make walking to work a little less than pleasant, you can’t let it hamper your free time, especially your weekends. Since the out of doors is particularly damp, hot, and muggy, finding indoors activities is a top priority. Luckily, Seoul has a wide range of things to keep you both dry and busy. You can go the normal route like museums and movies, or you can track down some of the more unusual activities. This weekend’s diversion? The Mustoy Café in Seoul...

As I've said before, I'm not crazy about the cold. Yes, I'm from New England, but no, I don't really ski, so winter for me is about the first magical snow (just one please, that's enough) and then of course the oh so mature Christmas countdown. Sometimes January and February can leave me in a kind of funk. But this really hasn't been the case in Korea.